Obituary of Brother Julian Riester

Brothers Julian Riester, OFM, Adrian Riester, OFM, 92, professed Franciscan friars for 65 years, both died on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. The identical twin brothers had been admitted to the hospital suffering from different ailments in recent days. Br. Julian passed away in the early morning and then Br. Adrian in the evening. The twins were born on March 27, 1919, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Dr. Julian Riester and Clara (Kaiser) Riester. Br. Julian was baptized Jerome and Br. Adrian was baptized Irving on May 4 at St. Nicholas Church in Buffalo. They attended Nardin Academy, Mt. St. Joseph Academy, and St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, all in Buffalo, graduating in 1939, then attended the National School (radio technicians), in Los Angeles, Ca., from 1939 to 1941. They were both received as Franciscan Tertiary Brothers on March 1, 1943, in New York City by Fr. Jerome Dawson, OFM. After two years of work and training, they were received into the Order of Friars Minor on January 22, 1945, at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., by Fr. Gerard McGlynn, OFM. On January 23, 1946, they both professed their first vows in Paterson, N.J., before Fr. Harold Blake, OFM, and on January 24, 1949, they professed their final vows at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street in New York City, before Fr. Bertrand Campbell, OFM. Following their profession in 1946,the twins were sent on separate assignments: Br. Adrian as sacristan at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City, and Br. Julian as general manager of St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Mass. However, in 1951, they were reunited, being assigned Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure in Allegany, N.Y. In 1956, they again were separated for different assignments �" although both in their home town of Buffalo, N.Y. - Br. Julian as general manager at St. Patrick's Parish and Br. Adrian as general manager at Bishop Timon High School. However, in 1973, they both returned to St. Bonaventure University, as sacristan and chauffer respectively, where they ministered faithfully at those jobs and many others for the next 35 years. In August 2008, they retired to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla. A viewing will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 5 at St. Anthony Friary, 357 Second Street North, Saint Petersburg, Fla. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 6 at St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace Church, 515 Fourth Street North, Saint Petersburg, Fla. Vicar Provincial Fr. Dominic V. Monti, OFM, will be the principal celebrant. Their bodies will then be returned to Allegany, N.Y., where a viewing will be held from 10-11:30 a.m,, Thursday, June 9 at St. Bonaventure University Chapel, with a prayer service at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the friars' plot of St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Brothers Julian and Adrian are survived by their sisters, Mrs. Daniel McCue, and Mrs. Rhea Shaddock. Condolences may be sent to: Mrs. Daniel McCue, 97 Reist Street, Buffalo, NY 14221 and Mrs. Rhea Shaddock, 8244 29th Avenue North, Saint Petersburg, FL 32710. May they rest in peace.